Archived: Abbendon Nursing Home

Updated 9 June 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 9 & 10 May 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of two adult social care inspectors.

Before the inspection we reviewed information available to us about this service. The registered provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR is a form that asks the registered provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed safeguarding alerts and notifications that had been sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We used the Short Observational Framework for inspection (SOFI) SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We spoke with one person living at the home and five relatives. We spoke with the registered manager, three care staff, a chef, an activities organiser, compliance manager for the provider, maintenance person and the provider (owner). Additionally, we spoke with a healthcare professional who had input into the service.

We reviewed three people's care records, looked at three staff files and reviewed records relating to the management of medicines, complaints, training and how the registered persons monitored the quality of the service. We toured the building and looked at a number of areas which included the communal areas, bathrooms, a number of bedrooms and external grounds.

Updated 9 June 2018

Abbendon Nursing Home is located in Southport and provides accommodation, personal care and nursing care for up to 24 older people living with dementia. The property is arranged over four floors that are accessible by a lift. There is off road parking to the front of the building and an enclosed garden at the rear.

At the last inspection in June 2017 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

At the time of the inspection there was a registered manager in post. The registered manager had worked at the service for a very long period of time. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Medication was administered by staff who had received appropriate training and were deemed competent.

Care plans and risk assessments were in place. They contained up to date and relevant information for each person who was being supported. Staff were familiar with people's support needs and always provided care and support in a respectful and dignified way.

We saw clear evidence of staff working effectively to deliver positive outcomes for people. People reviewed were receiving effective care and relatives confirmed the staff were caring in their approach and looked after people very well.

Recruitment was safely managed. This ensures prospective new staff have the right skills and are suitable to work with people living in the home.

There were suitable numbers of staff to support people safely and effectively. Staff had received induction, training, supervision and appraisals and extra training was provided to further equip staff with specialist skills and knowledge. Staff attended staff meetings to keep them informed and to support them in their role.

The registered provider operated within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People had been appropriately assessed and the relevant Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) had been submitted to the relevant local authority.

Staff were knowledgeable around the area of 'safeguarding' and 'whistleblowing' procedures. They were familiar with the reporting procedures to keep people safe.

Staff supported people with their nutritional preferences and requirements. The menus provided a good choice of meals.

The registered provider had a formal complaints policy and procedure in place. We saw evidence that complaints had been responded to in a professional and timely manner by the registered manager.

We found the environment to be well maintained. We discussed with the registered manager the need to consider further development of the environment to support people with dementia.

An activities organiser helped to support staff with social arrangements in the home. We discussed with the registered manager an increase in the number of hours and the provision of a more extensive social programme for people to engage with.

The provision for end of life care was well managed and staff received training and support from the local hospice palliative care team.

Relatives and staff were encouraged to share their views about the service and to make suggestions to improve standards. This was achieved through day-to-day contact with the registered managers, meetings and satisfaction surveys. Feedback was positive and the provider made changes where needed.

The service had a robust governance system to assess, monitor and continually improve the standard and quality of care being provided. This meant that people who were being supported were receiving safe, compassionate and effective care.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.